THURSDAY JUNE 9, 2022
Norway – The Land of the Midnight Sun
Jewish History in Norway dates back to the 19th century. Today, approximately 1,500 Jews still live in Norway. Join CSP and tour guide Evgenia Kempinski as we explore the beauty of Norway and learn about this country’s brief yet tragic Jewish history. Topics we will address on our vritual adventure to Norway include: The first Jewish community established in Oslo back in the 19th century; The growth of Jewish life in Norway in the first half of the 20th century; Norwegian Jews during WWII; The miraculous survival of an Oslo Synagogue during the War; The Re-establishment of the Jewish Community and the revival of Jewish life in Norway; and modern-day antisemitism and views towards Israel.

THURSDAY JUNE 16, 2022
Sweden – the Pop Music Capital of the World
Sweden today is home to about 15,000 Jews, making it one of the larger Jewish communities in Europe. Though Jews were not very welcome in Sweden in the 18th century (Jews had to practice Jewish rituals in secret), within 100 years from the establishment of the first Jewish community, Jews recevied Royal protection and civil rights. Join us on Thursday June 16th at 12:30 PM PDT/3:30 PM EDT for a virtual adventure to the “Pop Music Capital of the World” when we will visit synagogues, Jewish properties and monuments in Stockholm and several other Swedish towns, learn about the unique role Sweden played in saving Jews from the neighboring countries during the Holocaust, and hear the story of how Sweden saved Jewish refugees fleeing from Communist countries after the WWII. We will alos examine the similarity and difference of Jewish destiny in Sweden and Finland and address the subject of modern anti-semitism in Scandinavia.

THURSDAY JUNE 23, 2022
Estonia – The Singing Nation
Today we travel to Estonia – a small country between the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea that is known for its woods, lakes, islands and medieval fortresses. Tallinn, the capital of Estonia and where we will spend most of our tour time, is often called as “the best-preserved medieval town in Northern Europe”.  Although there is some evidence of Jewish presence in Estonia already back in the 14th century, the community was only formed after 1865, as a result of the reforms of the Russian Tsar Alexander II.  TOUR ITINERARY – We begin our tour of 150 years of Jewish life in Estonia with the Jewish community’s commercial success of late 19th century.  Next, we learn about a phenomenon of Jewish cultural autonomy in the independent Estonia of 1920s – 1930s. We then examine the impact that the Holocaust and Soviet repression had on Jewish life in Estonia, touching on stories of Jewish refuseniks in Estonia in the late Soviet time. Finally, we come to the modern times, when the Jewish community was re-established in the Independent Estonia.  We’ll visit the synagogue and Jewish Museum in Tallinn and learn about the modern Estonian attitude towards Jews, Israel, Holocaust and other sensitive subjects. 

Evgenia Kempinski is a Russian Jew born and raised in St. Petersburg. Her family was originally from the Pale of Settlement – Poland, Ukraine and Belorussia – and endured the suppression of Judaism in the Soviet Union then the rebirth of Jewish culture and religious life in today’s St. Petersburg. She has been an official St. Petersburg tour guide for over 15 years and is the founder and owner of St.Petersburg Jewish Tours – a company offering Jewish travelers a unique experience of showcasing the best of Russia from a Jewish point of view. She currently lives in Haifa, Israel, still keeping close connections with St. Petersburg and its Jewish community.

There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. This event is held virtually on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event. For more information, contact Program Director Ilene Tatro at itatro@cbisd.org.

CSP Partners: Beth Israel (San Diego, CA), Brotherhood Synagogue (Gramercy Park, NYC), Congregation Beth Shalom (Seattle, WA), Congregation B’nai Tzedek (Fountain Valley, CA), Congregation B’nai Israel (Tustin, CA), Jewish Collaborative of Orange County, CA, Shomrei Torah Synagogue (San Fernando Valley, CA), Temple Bat Yahm (Newport Beach, CA), Temple Beth El of South Orange County (Aliso Viejo, CA), Temple Beth Emet (Anaheim, CA), Temple Beth Ohr (La Mirada, CA), Temple Beth Tikvah (Fullerton, CA), Temple Beth Shalom (Needham, MA), Temple Beth Sholom (Santa Ana, CA), Temple Emanuel (Newton, MA), Town & Village Synagogue (NYC, NY), University Synagogue (Irvine, CA), Valley Beth Shalom (Encino, CA) & Walnut Street Synagogue (Chelsea, MA)